Sandra Midyette, a registered nurse at Lenoir Memorial Hospital, was recognized as one of the Great 100 Nurses throughout the state for 2013.

Midyette is the 23rd nurse from LMH since 1992 to be a recipient of the Great 100, which was founded in 1988. She’s been a registered nurse for 25 years.

The mission of the grassroots organization is to demonstrate excellence in the registered nursing field and to raise funds for nursing scholarships. In the past 12 years, $510,000 has been awarded for nursing scholarships, according to the LMH website.

Constance E. Hengel, director of Community Programming and Development, was a recipient in 2009 and Sonia Joyner, Corporate and Community Health coordinator, was awarded in 2007. The two RNs nominated Midyette this year.

“I am inspired every day by Sandra’s nursing expertise,” Hengel wrote in an email to The Free Press. “She provides a caring relationship with her clients, which allows them to make health behavior changes for better health status. She is an outstanding diabetes educator and it is a joy to nurse with her in the outpatient and community setting. The Great 100 made a great selection by adding her to this well-regarded group.”

In the nomination essay, Midyette was described as being recognized regionally as a diabetes nurse expert.

In summary, the essay said, “(Midyette) champions education, coaches the best health behaviors and transforms lives with the strength of her passionate nursing.”

“I was very humbled by it,” the 46-year-old said about the award.

Midyette was instrumental in starting up the Diabetes Wellness Program at LMH in July 2007. The program is funded by grants and has been recognized by the American Association of Diabetes Educators since 2010. Diabetes rates are higher in North Carolina than nationwide rates.

“We got this program running from scratch,” she said. “The purpose of the program is to provide community members living with diabetes diabetes-self-management education. At that time, there was no other diabetes education program in our community.”

Patients — of Type 1 or 2 and age 18 or older — must be referred by a physician. They may be new and frightened about having the disease or just needing a refresher, Midyette said.

“It’s not about cutting sugar and sweets,” she said, “it’s really about incorporating healthy lifestyle behaviors.”

High fat and high calorie foods are readily available and contribute to the high rate of diabetes, she said.

“Having a good conversation with health providers,” Midyette said, “I think that’s one of the things we need to do. And I encourage that.”

She recommends eating regular balanced meals and carrying four peppermints in case of a hypoglycemic episode. A half-cup of juice will also work, she said.

Page 2 of 2 - Midyette also recommends about 30 minutes of brisk exercise each day after checking with a physician, but exercise doesn’t have to be rigorous. It can be walking the dog or just getting up and moving, she said.

She emphasizes reducing risks because diabetes can lead to other complications, such as strokes, heart attacks, blindness, renal disease and amputations.

“The education being offered to the community at the hospital is almost unheard of,” Midyette said. LMH not only offers classes, it has a fitness center, walking track and two exercise specialists.

In 1988, Midyette earned her nursing degree at Sampson Community College in Clinton. She began working at LMH after graduation. She was a 2008 Nursing Excellence recipient.

“I just love what I do,” she said, “— just really being able to see changes that education can make.”

Midyette resides in Kinston with her husband Ronald and their daughters, Megan, 21, and Madeline, 17.

Margaret Fisher can be reached at 252-559-1082 or Margaret.Fisher@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @MargaretFishr.

Breakout box:

Diabetes in Lenoir County

n 8.7 percent of population has diabetes (compared with 7.8 percent nationwide)